The stock market sectors Consumer Services/Products averaged 6% increases in 2011 due to gains in the final quarter after sliding into the red during the summer. Many stocks in the Home/Interiors subsector had positive gains that reflected and in some cases exceeded the overall consumer average gain.
Stunning outperformance last year was notched by Basset Furniture (+78%) and Select Comfort (+138%). Well above average gains in 2011 were delivered to stockholders by Bed, Bath, and Beyond (+18%), and Ethan Allan (+18%). La-Z-Boy (+32%), Pier 1 (+33%), and Tempur Pedic (+31%). The big box Home Improvement companies had significantly different market performances: Home Depot (+20%) and Lowes (+1%). These figures support last week's report that furniture imports climbed the highest in 8 years in November 2011, up 7%.
Starting off the first quarter 2012 with a bang, Furniture Brands International, which includes Thomasville, Broyhill, Lane, Drexel Heritage, Maitland-Smith and Henredon, was up +35% last week over the previous week.
